Clotel originally named The Presidents Daughter but was later changed because of the controversy it aroused when it was based upon the life of President Jefferson's children, and the rejection from their biological father. Slave women were treated as objects, breeders for offspring. Clotel brings to light "the hypocrisy of Christianity" and the injustice and immorality of selling your own children. Christianity as many people know it is the belief in Jesus Christ, following in his ways, being virtuous and true. Many children faced this fate of being enslaved, mixed and looked at differently because of the color of their skin. These children were brought about by adultery, and sin.
             Clotel discuses the religion slave owners believed in, which was "Christianity." Marriage was a sacred bond between two people. In the sight of God slaves believed it was against the beliefs of a good Christian to remarry while your spouse is still alive, whether or not they were separated by being sold. Slave holders thought very little of their slaves. "To forbid second marriages in such cases would be to expose the parties...to church-censure for acting in obedience to their master... (171)" Marriage is a sanctified component of Christianity which was manipulated to fit the standards of the slave owners. Adultery likewise is a sin. Slave women had the choice to either be beaten or sleep with their masters, in most cases they became child bearers for their masters. "Society does not frown upon the man who sits with his mulatto child upon his knee, whilst its mother stands a slave behind his chair (170)." This quote portrays a time when enslaved women were being impregnated by white slave owners and viewed as a normal occurrence in society. Bearing children out of wedlock was also a sin. Slave owners bent the rules of the bible because they believed it would force the slaves to submit to authority.
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